Friday, 31 October 2014

A South African tourism
businesswoman, who was caught travelling to the UK with an electric
stun gun and CS spray in her luggage, has received a suspended prison
sentence.Amelia Marcia Georgiades, 61, who
runs a shuttle/tour in Knysna was stopped at Heathrow Airport's
Terminal Four and arrested.She pleaded guilty at Uxbridge
Magistrates Court to two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon,
namely a stun gun and CS spray, on June 20 and was sentenced to four
months imprisonment, suspended for two years.She was also fined £500, with £85
costs and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.Georgiades, who was visiting an
address in Bay Tree Close, Iffley, Oxford had just stepped off a
Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London when the illegal weapons
were found in her luggage.She claimed she did not know the
items were in her luggage when she departed South Africa.

Wednesday, 29 October 2014

A Crown Prosecution Service and Home Office bungle has resulted in the collapse of the trial of a north-west London imam, suspected of conducting 580 sham marriages at an Islamic centre between muslim men and EU national brides.

Mohammed Mattar, 63, of Maygrove Road, West Hampstead had also originally been charged with laundering over £1.8m in criminal profits via an Egyptian bank account, but this was also dropped.

His trial was due to begin at Isleworth Crown Court on October 13, but the CPS had failed to disclose all their relevant material to Matter's defence team and their application for an extension of time was refused at a pre-trial hearing on September 18.

Yesterday a CPS spokesperson said: "In early 2014 we identified a large amount of potentially relevant material and we advised the Home Office investigation team to obtain and look into the material for the purpose of disclosure.

"In August it became apparent that this work had not been completed and therefore we would not be able to fully discharge disclosure obligations in the case before the trial.

"We therefore applied for an adjournment. This was refused by the court and we had no option, but to offer no evidence."

Mattar, who was known at the Dar Al Dawa Islamic Centre in Westbourne Grove, was originally charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law between January 1, 2008 and July 12, 2012 by conducting marriages between EU national females and non EU national males to obtain permanent leave to remain in the UK.

He was also charged with concealing criminal property between the same dates via money transfers to the value of £1,887,262, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act, but this charge had already been dropped in April.

Tuesday, 28 October 2014

A young thug, recently released
from prison for a strip club rampage, is starting another sentence
for dousing a man with ammonia.Bobby Colin Maloney, 21, of The
Derings, Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent received two years imprisonment at
Harrow Crown Court.He pleaded guilty to one count of
throwing a corrosive fluid at Christopher Ougham in Birkbeck Avenue,
Greenford, west London on July 28.The prosecution dropped a charge
of grievous bodily harm against the same victim.In November, last year Maloney was
caged after he and an accomplice armed themselves with bricks and
scaffold poles from a building site to threaten security staff at the
'Sophisticats' club, near Bond Street in the West End.The pair had been ejected for
interfering with the girls and threatened to shoot staff with AK47's.As well as starting a new sentence
Maloney was also ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge and the
remaining ammonia was forfeited.

Monday, 27 October 2014

Heavyweight boxing champ Dereck Chisora jumped a red light as he fled police in his uninsured high-performance Mercedes SUV after an officer quizzed him about his Zimbabwean driving licence.

The 30 year-old European and WBO Intercontinental title holder was in stationary traffic when the officer, who was travelling in the opposite direction, chatted to him through his open window and ordered him to pull over.

Luckily police recognised the six foot one former British and Commonwealth champion and went to the boxer's mother's home and told her they wanted to speak with him.

Chisora, of Addison Way, Golders Green did not attend Willesden Magistrates Court today, but pleaded guilty to driving the 5.5 litre Mercedes ML V8 in Finchley Road on April 12 without insurance.

He also admitted failing to comply with a red light and failing to stop for a uniformed police officer and was fined a total of £665, with £85 costs and a £66 victim surcharge and was given seven penalty points.

The boxer is currently preparing for his 'Battle of Britain' showdown with fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury at the Docklands' ExCel arena on November 29.

Chisora's lawyer Mr. Barry Warburton told the court: "The police officer's attention was drawn because they were sitting in a traffic queue and he wound his window down and asked: 'Do you have a driving licence?'

"My client said it was an international driver's licence and the officer said there was no such thing."

Chisora then ignored the police request to stop and jumped the red light he was waiting at.

"It was in fact a full Zimbabwean driving licence and all he has to do is send it to DVLA and they will send back a full UK driving licence," explained Mr. Warburton.

When asked how long his client had been living in the country the lawyer replied: "I have no idea and it doesn't matter anyway. He's not doing anything unlawful driving on a Zimbabwean licence.

"He's pleaded guilty to the red traffic light, he says it was marginal, but accepts he should have stopped.

"The vehicle was fully insured for named drivers over thirty years-old."

Unfortunately for Chisora he was not a named driver on the policy.

When quizzed about his client's earning Mr. Warburton said: "He's a famous professional boxer. I don't know how much they make, but probably a lot.

"I think two thousand pounds a week would be conservative."

The lawyer said the penalty would be paid in full within seven days. "I'll be in touch with his management team."

Sunday, 26 October 2014

A
young Romanian – high on a cocktail of drink and drugs –
who butchered a popular middle-aged Israeli woman in her own home is
starting a life sentence.

Nicolae
Patraucean, 21, of Stanmore will serve a minimum of twenty-five years
after pleading guilty to murdering 55 year-old Rivka Holden at her
home in Falcon Way, Colindale.

He
slashed her throat with a knife and inflicted further serious wounds
with a Stanley knife at the address on March 16.

Police
were flagged down at 12.20pm and officers were alerted to a seriously
injured woman at her home address.

London
Ambulance Service attended the address and Rivka was pronounced dead
at the scene.

She
had suffered stab injuries.

A
murder investigation was launched under Detective Chief Inspector
Nicola Wall of the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

The
victim's Red Hyundai i20, which had been stolen by Patraucean and
driven away from the scene, was later found abandoned in the
Kingsbury area.

Robbery
was not, however, believed to be the motive for the murder.

Detective
Inspector Simon Ashwin, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command,
said: "I hope this sentence gives Ms Holden's family some solace
in knowing that her killer has been brought to justice and will spend
many years in prison."

Friday, 24 October 2014

A
night bus sex pest repeatedly rubbed himself up against a young woman
during an early hours service from the West End to east London.

Shah
Ahmed, 34, of Ethel Road, Canning Town was convicted by a Snaresbrook
Crown Court jury of sexual assault and will be sentenced on December
1.

The
incident ocurred at 1.00am on October 27 on a N25 bus travelling
along Oxford Street as the 25-year-old victim was travelling home
after a Saturday a night out.

The
victim got off the bus and reported the incident to police.

The
Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) Sexual Offences Team led
the investigation and obtained CCTV footage from the bus.

This
investigation led to Ahmed being identified and he was arrested on
November 19.

Acting
Superintendent Andrew Johnstone of the RTPC said: "Sexual
assaults on the transport network will not be tolerated and anyone
who commits such offences will be caught and prosecuted.

"If
someone has made you feel uncomfortable on your bus journey - however
minor it may seem to you - reporting it to police can help us target
the perpetrator and prevent it happening to another passenger."

Siwan
Hayward, Transport for London's Deputy Director of Enforcement and
On-Street Operations, said: "We care about our passengers and
every journey they make and do not tolerate unwanted sexual behaviour
or crime of any kind on our transport network.

“I
am pleased this offender has been found guilty for his grossly
unpleasant, and completely unacceptable crime.

"Overall
our transport network is a safe, low crime environment. Over ten
million passengers use our public transport services each day with
very few ever experiencing or witnessing crime."

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

A
despicable couple, who broke into the home of two pensioner brothers
in the middle of the night, attacking the terrified pair and
ransacking the address have been caged.

Rohan
Daley, 41, of Yelverton Road, Battersea received five years
imprisonment – which includes a seperate break-in – and Nicola
Barwell, 38, of nearby Peabody Estate, St. John's Hill received two
years and eight months.

At
Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court they both pleaded guilty to burgling
the Clapham address on May 11 and Daley admitted another burglary and
possessing a knife.

The
court heard how in the early hours of the morning at 4.30am the two
brothers, aged 78 and 67 years-old, were asleep in their home.

The
older of the two was woken up by the sound of someone forcing open
the front door.

He
was confronted by Daley who had entered his bedroom and was demanding
money.

Barwell
also entered the room and began a search and Daley punched the
elderly victim, causing a bruise to his face.

The
pair completed their search and left the room and the victim used
this opportunity to call the police.

The
younger brother, who was sleeping in a downstairs bedroom, heard the
commotion and went to the bottom of the stairs.

Daley
picked a stepladder and threw it at him, striking him in the chest
and knocking him backwards.

Daley
grappled with the man and tried to grab his walking stick.

He
was joined by Barwell and they again demanded money and searched the
room.

Daley
used a screwdriver to rip open the pensioner’s mattress.

Both
then returned to the first bedroom where Daley threw a torch at the
78-year-old man, causing a two inch gash above his eye.

After
this they left the property, but were chased and arrested by police
officers who had arrived at the scene.

Daley
was seen to discard property that he had stolen from the house and
when he was searched, a lock-knife was found in his trouser pocket.

Barwell
was arrested whilst trying to climb over a fence.

Detective
Constable Tony Davis, of Wandsworth CID, said: “This was a
horrendous crime where two vulnerable and elderly men were attacked
in their home.

Daley
is a dangerous individual who would do anything for his own gain,
while Barwell has shown a shocking lack of compassion.

“Thankfully,
despite their horrendous ordeal, one of the victims courageously
called police and the fast response by officers helped bring this
pair to justice.”

Tuesday, 21 October 2014

An actor and performance artist, who appears in Johnny Depp's latest film, continued claiming £7,500 in Pension Credit while secretly pocketing fees for roles and projects with his younger wife.

Barrington De La Roche, 70, who describes himself as an 'Independent Fine Art Professional' plays the role of 'Shakespeare' in 2014's 'London Fields', a thriller which also stars Billy Bob Thornton and Jason Isaacs.

He also appears in nineteenth century horror 'Blood Moon' - playing the role of 'Ahiga' - set for release in November and next year will be seen in horror short 'God Will Fall.'

De La Roche performs along with his 32 year-old wife Inesa Vaiciute as 'Dark Theatre' a conceptual art form which has exhibited in London, Vienna, Budapest and Berlin and includes mostly nude poses illustrating such themes as birth and death.

De La Roche, of Alma Road, Wandsworth pleaded guilty yesterday to failing to notify a change of circumstances to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) between April 5, 2009 and August 19, last year, namely that he and his wife were in gainful employment.

Prosecutor Miss Frances Lockhart told Wimbledon Magistrates Court

: "Mr. De La Roche claimed Pension Credit for his partner and himself for which he was not entitled because he failed to declare his circumstances.

"He and his partner were working as actors and extras and he also received housing benefit and council tax benefit during the period he and his wife were working and receiving earnings."

When De La Roche began the claim in February, 2008 he stated he was unemployed, but received work via six acting agencies, including 2020 Casting and Ugly Models Enterprises, which reported him to the DWP.

"Had he informed the DWP of his employers he would have received nil benefit or benefit at a reduced rate would have been payable."

The DWP overpaid De La Roche £7,521.96, which he is currently repaying at £23.50 per week.

He was interviewed in by the DWP in April last year, with a London Borough of Wandsworth investigator also attending.

"He admitted knowing he had to inform the DWP of any change in circumstances and said his earnings were always absorbed and that he wanted to earn enough to come off benefits, but this did not happen," explained Miss Lockhart.

His lawyer Miss Eloise Emanuel told the court: "Mr. De La Roche was not fraudulent from the outset and he is still entitled to Pension Credit at a reduced rate.

"This was not a sophisticated carrying out of the offence or involved sophisticated planning and Mr. and Mrs. De La Roche used their own bank accounts.

"This was a legitimate claim that became false due to his situation. He does not live an extravagant lifestyle and works with art installations and casting agencies.

"He does an awful lot of work for charity and describes himself as a recovering drug addict, even though he has been clean for twenty-nine years, and regularly goes to Narcotics Anonymous meetings to assist those recovering themselves and is due to go tomorrow to speak.

"He set up the LimbPower charity for amputees after his daughter lost a limb," added Miss Emanuel, explaining her client is also involved in an artists charity, which seeks to help those similarly disabled.

District Judge James Henderson conditionally discharged De La Roche for eighteen months and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

"I give you full credit for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity and for the fact it was an error rather than deliberate dishonesty," he told the first-time offender.

"You have reached the age of seventy without a criminal offence and you are paying back the money at a reasonable rate."

Sunday, 19 October 2014

A
paedophile, who raped an 11 year-old girl he befriended the same day,
has been locked-up for eight-and-a-half years.

James
Albert Bodenham, 26, of St. Luke's Close, South Norwood attacked the
young girl in Addiscombe when she was out visiting a relative.

He
pleaded guilty to one count of rape when he appeared at the Old
Bailey and was also given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Bodenham
was identified and arrested after he was recognised in CCTV footage
by an officer from Croydon who happened to have stopped him a few
weeks prior to the offence taking place.

Police
were contacted by the girl’s parents on the afternoon of March 1
when she was late returning home after visiting a relative.

The
girl returned home soon after, but was in a distressed state.

Following
delicate enquiries carried out by officers, they managed to find out
that she had been sexually assaulted by a man she had met and
befriended only that day.

A
full investigation was carried out by officers from the Metropolitan
Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command and
detectives identified CCTV footage from the area showing a man who
matched the description given by the girl.

Images
of the man were circulated to local officers in Croydon and a Croydon
CID officer recognised him as Bodenham, as he had stopped him riding
a push bike in the area a few weeks before.

Further
enquiries were made and Bodenham was arrested by police on March 19
at his home address.

Officers
also seized clothing that matched the description given to them by
the victim.

Police
also compared Bodenham’s DNA with samples taken from the victim’s
clothing and he was charged later that day.

Detective
Constable David Bendall who investigated the case said: “Bodenham
targeted an extremely young and vulnerable girl, who will have to
live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of her life.

“The
victim and her family have shown tremendous strength and courage
throughout the entire investigation.

“I
hope that by bringing Bodenham to justice will in some way help them
to move on from this terrible ordeal.”

Saturday, 18 October 2014

A teenager, accused of using a bounced cheque to swindle £13,400 worth of liposuction out of a leading Kensington plastic surgery, has appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court for the first time.

Racine Loreece Peters, 18, of Hither Green Lane, Hither Green indicated a not guilty plea and was bailed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on October 28.

She is charged with obtaining services dishonestly between August 5 and 10 at 29 Kensington Church Street, namely cosmetic surgery worth £13,400 from EF MEDISPA by forging a Metro Bank letter and presenting a cheque in that sum, knowing there were insufficient funds in the account.

EF MEDISPA describes itself as a multi award winning beauty therapy clinic specialising in skin care and has further locations in Chelsea and St. John's Wood.

Kensington is home to it's flagship clinic and some of the procedures offered include breast enhancement, liposuction, laser hair reduction and facelifts.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan told the court Peters was challenged at a follow-up visit and produced a forged letter, which indicated she had sufficient funds in her account.

Friday, 17 October 2014

A young woman, accused of an audacious fraud on the president of Schroders merchant bank, Sir George Mallinckrodt, who handed over £74,000 worth of jewellery and lost £6,000 in cash, appeared for the first time at Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday.

Miranda Trudy Elmakhzangy, 20, of Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, is accused of posing as a police officer and conning Sir George, 84 and his wife Charmaine, 79, into handing over the valuables on the doorstep of their Chelsea home.

She is charged that on April 7 at Chelsea Square, Chelsea she stole various items of jewellery and bank cards worth £80,000 belonging to the elderly couple and was bailed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on October 28 after making no indication as to plea.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan described the couple as "vulnerable" and suffered the loss after receiving a phone call by somebody purporting to be a police officer.

Sir George is the former president of Schroders, an independent merchant bank, which has offices in twenty-seven countries, managing £271.5 billion.

German-born Sir George has an honorary knighthood and his full name is Georg Wilhelm von Mallinckrodt.

He married Charmaine Schroder, sister of Bruno Schroder, the great-great-grandson of the bank's co-founder John Henry Schroder, in 1958, after joining the company four years earlier in New York.

He moved to London in 1960 and became director in 1977, serving as chairman from December 1984 until May 1995 and later as president.

Sir George played a leading role in the Bank of England's attempt to save Barings.

Elmakhzangy is also charged with driving a 1.8 litre silver Mercedes in Sharpenhoe Road, Streatley, Bedforshire on July 8 without insurance and obstructing a PC Cundell at Dunstable Police Station on the same day.

She was bailed on condition she signs-on at Luton Police Station on Monday's and Thursday's, notifies any change of address to police and does not contact Sir George or Charmaine.

Deputy District Judge Caroline Jackson told her: "You clearly know where they live and who they are. If you contact them you will be arrested and your bail taken away."

Thursday, 16 October 2014

A zero hours contract worker with
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital forged time sheets and collected
over £7,500 after ending her employment.Jamaica Ubaldo, 23, of Talbot
Road, Wembley even had the cheek to phone her former bosses at the West Brompton hospital and
demand wages when her scam was uncovered and the payments stopped.She pleaded guilty at Hammersmith
Magistrates Court today to forging the time sheets between June 1,
2013 and February 26, this year and was committed to Isleworth Crown
Court for sentencing.Prosecutor Mr. Richard Doolan told
the court: “The defendant stopped working in May last year, but
after this she continued submitting time sheets and was paid up until
February.“When the fraud came to light
the defendant rang the office asking where the payments were. You may
think this aggravates the offence.”Ordering probation reports
District Judge Caroline Jackson bailed the first-time offender,
telling her: “I think it's too serious. It's going to be committed
for sentencing.”

Monday, 13 October 2014

Furniture designer Lady Tatiana Howard was fined £500 today for running over and hospitalising a pedestrian with her Porsche as she drove along the wrong side of the road on the way to her boutique Fulham store.

Lady Tatiana, 49, impatiently overtook a row of stationary cars on her way to Tatiana Tafur in fashionable King's Road when she struck David Laing in nearby North End Road, West Kensington.

The mother-of-two, who studied the History of Art at Sotheby's and lives in a £1 million house in

Little Barrington, Burford, Oxfordshire admitted driving her black Porsche Boxter without due care and attention on January 14.